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By the students, for the students of Central Washington University

The Observer

By the students, for the students of Central Washington University

The Observer

By the students, for the students of Central Washington University

The Observer

Miles King, Editor-in-Chief

Editor-in-Chief - Fall 2018

News Editor - Spring 2018

All content by Miles King
Dugmore Hall is expected to open in fall 2019. Located on noth campus, the hall will provide approximately 400 beds for on-campus housing.

CWU feeling the pressure of rising enrollment

Miles King, Editor in chief
November 8, 2018

Rune's story On a cold Ellensburg evening in late 2016, junior broadcast journalism major Rune Torgersen was hanging out in his Getz Short apartment with some friends. He felt a drip on his bed and...

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Handwritten notes rest on tables for both Austin McKenzie and Michael Demchuck. Custom-made camouflage bracelets were available for attendees to take as well.

Finding light in darkness: a community comes together

Miles King, Editor in Chief
October 31, 2018

Tears were shed, hugs were shared and the campus community came together Friday evening for one purpose: to celebrate and remember the lives of Michael Demchuck and Austin McKenzie, two ROTC students who...

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Jax Wettland.

[Photo] The walk-on experience for athletes at CWU

Dez Rodriguez, Staff Reporter
October 25, 2018

Jax Wettland.

Riley Maier practices shot put in the field house at Nicholson Pavilion. The indoor season will officially begin when the team heads to the Candy Cane Open at Eastern Washington University on Dec. 1.

[Photo] Indoor track back in session at CWU

October 25, 2018

Riley Maier practices shot put in the field house at Nicholson Pavilion. The indoor season will officially begin when the team heads to the Candy Cane Open at Eastern Washington University on Dec. 1.

Friends of Demchuck and McKenzie gather on the south side of Lind Hall on the evening on Friday, Oct. 19. Attendees shared fond memories of the deceased. ASCWU has organized a candlelight vigil for Thursday, Oct. 25 at 7 p.m. on the SURC East Patio.

CWU mourns the loss of ROTC students

Miles King and Jack Belcher
October 25, 2018

** Correction:  The story originally said that the Oct. 25 vigil took place on the SURC East Patio. It was moved to the SURC West Patio due to weather conditions. On the evening of Thursday, Oct....

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Jovuani Phomprida-Robinson (#22) evades defenders. Phomprida-Robinson had one rushing touchdown and two passing touchdowns.

[Photo] Fall intramurals get underway for CWU

October 18, 2018

Jovuani Phomprida-Robinson (#22) evades defenders. Phomprida-Robinson had one rushing touchdown and two passing touchdowns.

Pumpkins at Huffman Farms

[Photo] Harvest season

October 11, 2018

Pumpkins at Huffman Farms

Pumpkins at Huffman Farms

[Photo] Harvest season

Cassandra Hays, Staff Reporter
October 11, 2018

Llama at Huffman Farms.

Manweller asked to resign

Manweller asked to resign

Miles King, Editor-in-Chief
September 27, 2018

Former CWU political science professor Dr. Matt Manweller was accused late last week of having a sexual relationship with a 17-year-old high school student in 1997 when he was at least 10 years older....

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Soccer sets their sights on the Wolves

Miles King, Editor-In-Chief
September 27, 2018

The CWU women’s soccer team will take on Western Oregon University (WOU) Thursday, Sept. 27 at home. The Wildcats are coming off a 0-2 loss to Seattle Pacific University (SPU) on Saturday. CWU sophomore...

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Jeff St. John is one of two officers being promoted.

CWUPD continues restructuring

Miles King, News Editor
May 2, 2018

Starting May 1, two CWU Police Department employees will begin new positions. Corporal AndyBayne and Officer Jeff St. John will both become sergeants. Bayne, a CWU graduate with a law and...

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CWU to host Cannabis Caucus

CWU to host Cannabis Caucus

Miles King, News Editor
April 25, 2018

The CWU College of Business is hosting a Cannabis Caucus on Friday, April 27. The conference will be the first in Washington devoted the growing industry. The caucus will take place in Sue Lombard Hall...

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Active Shooter Protocol

Miles King, News Editor
April 12, 2018

Mass shootings have unfortunately become a regular part of American life. With the recent events at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, how should students across campuses nationwide react in an active...

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Meet the Candidates for ASCWU

Miles King, News Editor
April 4, 2018

Associated Students of Central Washington University (ASCWU) election candidates crowded the SURC Marketplace the morning of Wednesday, March 28 to speak with students about their campaign goals. With...

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Jawan Stepney looks toward the basket during a home game in Nicholson Pavilion during the 2017-18 regular season.

Men’s basketball out in quarterfinal

Miles King, Staff Reporter
March 8, 2018

CWU Men’s Basketball closed their season with an 87-84 overtime loss to Saint Martin’s University (SMU) in Anchorage March 1. CWU was led by freshman guard Khalil Shabazz who scored 23 points, 13...

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Hoop there it is

Hoop there it is

Miles King, Staff Reporter
March 2, 2018

The sixth annual 3 on 3 basketball tournament took place on Saturday, Feb. 24 in the CWU Recreation Center. Unlike previous years, the tournament is no longer associated with Hoops for Hospice. According...

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Senior athletes take the lead

Senior athletes take the lead

Miles King, Staff Reporter
February 23, 2018

Senior leadership can often be an overlooked aspect of a team sport. The coaches cannot be on the field or court with the players; they must depend on the experience and wisdom of senior athletes for the...

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Men’s basketball looks to playoffs

Miles King, Staff Reporter
February 8, 2018

After winning five games in a row, CWU Men’s Basketball holds the fourth best record in the GNAC. The top six teams qualify for the GNAC playoff. After losing six of their first nine GNAC matchups,...

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CWU earns huge win over rival WWU

Miles King, Staff Reporter
February 2, 2018

CWU men’s basketball defeated rival Western Washington University (WWU) 92-81 Thursday at the Nicholson Pavilion in Ellensburg. The Wildcats were led by freshman guard Khalil Shabazz with 24 points...

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Coleman Sparling struggles to evade a block going up for a lay during practice.

CWU Looks to Knock-off Rival WWU

Miles King, Staff Reporter
February 1, 2018

CWU men’s basketball will take on rival Western Washington University (WWU) Thursday, Feb. 1 at home. The Vikings are coming off a 92-88 loss against Seattle Pacific University, and the Wildcats a 77-73...

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Martin Mattes scales the rock wall in the SURC Recreation Center for the Vertical Challenge.

Wall Crawlers

Miles King, Staff Reporter
January 25, 2018

CWU climbing enthusiasts have a new challenge facing them: climb as high as Mount Everest, a tall task considering the mountain’s just-over-29,000-foot summit. The event, hosted by the CWU Recreation...

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Aerial image of Rattlesnake Ridge, just south of Union Gap, Wash. on Wednesday, Jan. 10 2018. Courtesy of Shawn Gust / Yakima Herald-Republic.

Rattlesnake Ridge crack threatens Union Gap residents and highway

Miles King, Staff Reporter
January 19, 2018

Large cracks have developed in the Rattlesnake Hills near Union Gap also known as Rattlesnake Ridge, just south of Yakima, Washington, not to be confused with Rattlesnake Ledge or Ridge in North Bend,...

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Green states and marijuana advocates have been eager to see what the release of lax Obama-era regulations mean for their business and lifestyle.

Sessions up in smoke

Miles King, Staff Reporter
January 11, 2018

When Attorney General Jeff Sessions was appointed by the Trump administration, he made it clear he would fight against the legalization of marijuana on state levels. The morning of Jan. 4, Sessions delivered...

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Getting a license to sell from the liquor board may not be so easy. Businesses potentially face opposition from the city, the board and community members. Photo illustration by Jack Lambert.

The complex procedures behind license denials

Miles King, Staff Reporter
November 30, 2017

Are you thinking about opening your own tavern or dispensary? There may be more steps to obtaining a cannabis license than you think. Attaining the proper license is the first step in your business plan....

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Students and community members gathered together last Monday, Nov. 13 for the protest. They finished the protest by rallying around the Wildcat, located outside the SURC. Xander Fu / The Observer

NIOKC marches for inclusive community

Miles King, Staff Reporter
November 15, 2017

“Build bridges, not walls” and “love conquers hate, don’t discriminate” could be heard shouted in the streets of downtown Ellensburg Monday afternoon during the second annual Not in Our Kitt...

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Germany and EU events present new opportunities for students at CWU

Miles King, Staff Reporter
November 9, 2017

If you have ever had the desire to live or work abroad in Europe, the series of events occurring over the next week will give you all the information you need.   From November 6 to Nov. 17, several...

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CDSJ adds Barge as sight for non-traditional students

Miles King, Staff Reporter
November 2, 2017

  The Center for Diversity and Social Justice (CDSJ) is planning an expansion into the fourth floor of Barge Hall this December. Currently, it is located on the second floor of the SURC. The...

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Connor Anderson tests the temperature of the mash. Mashing is the combinations of multiple grains and water with heat. James Stuck/The Observer.

Brewing program continues to expand

Miles King, Staff Reporter
October 19, 2017

Posted on the wall of the Craft Brewing lab at CWU is the brewing process. To most students, the process can be somewhat confusing, but according to student Robert Renneberg, “if you can make Kraft mac...

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Anderson moderates conversation and questions between the audience and the two guest speakers, Butler-Smith and Padgett. James Stuck/TheObserver

Exonerees tell stories of life on death row

Miles King, Staff Reporter
October 12, 2017

The SURC Theatre was at capacity on the evening of Tuesday, Oct. 3. Security turned away about 70 students, but media and late arrivals lined the back wall. The guest speakers arrived prepared; this...

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Finding the Funds

Miles King, Staff Reporter
October 5, 2017

Beginning this year, CWU has a new budget model aimed to give control of funds to the deans of each college.  The new model is called Activity-Based Budgeting (ABB). ABB and Responsibility-Centered...

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Despite many negative attitudes towards marijuana, it was found to be the second safest drug according to a Global Drug Survey.

‘The Reefer Madness’ Survey shows marijuana safer than most drugs

Miles King, News Reporter
June 1, 2017

The results of a recent Global Drug Survey (GDS) suggest that cannabis is one of the safest drugs with a low number of users requiring emergency medical attention. The survey polled roughly 115 thousand...

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Recent studies done by researchers at Bonn University in Germany suggest that small amounts of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) can restore memory and learning functions in the brains of older subjects, similar to the levels of younger subjects.
Previous studies have shown that THC exposure in younger and adolescent subjects reduces learning and memory ability. The results of this study reflect the opposite in older subjects.
The study was completed using mice ranging in ages from 2 to 18 months. The older mice treated with small doses of THC showed similar cognitive function to the younger mice during testing.
The researchers are planning a clinical trial on humans showing signs of cognitive decline. The results from the study done on mice are promising for those with Alzheimer’s. THC decreases the production of amyloid beta, a protein that spikes in early stages of the disease, according to a study done at the University of South Florida.
Billy Lauderdale, an employee at Cannabis Central in Ellensburg, has noticed an increase in the number of elderly customers.
These customers are purchasing more cannabidiol (CBD) products than marijuana products including THC, according to Lauderdale. Lauderdale believes more marijuana research will “help people understand there is more than one side” to pot and it is not just used to get high. The older customers are utilizing the other parts of the plant.
With more research on medical benefits Dan DeVries, manager at The Fire House in Ellensburg, said “the stigma will go away,” referring to the stereotypes surrounding pot users.
“We’ve been lied to for so long,” DeVries said.
The criminalization and stigmatization of pot goes back to before the Nixon administration, and DeVries believes the older generation is very prideful and stuck in their ways. 
DeVries also believes the lack of research into medical marijuana has led to “people not being able to get outside their circumstances,” in addition to being somewhat narrow-minded.
He also believes younger generations understand marijuana better than older generations. DeVries recognizes the older generation’s lack of acceptance stems from the way they were raised, which was to believe pot is a highly addictive gateway drug.
DeVries also called upon the media to continue to cover medical marijuana research. He believes if the media “continues to publish the hell out of positive news” regarding pot, the older generations could possibly be swayed to change their minds on medical marijuana.

The Miracles of CBD: Study shows increase of memory and learning in older mice

Miles King, News Reporter
May 25, 2017

Recent studies done by researchers at Bonn University in Germany suggest that small amounts of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) can restore memory and learning functions in the brains of older subjects, similar...

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Instead of a patron saint or diety, the International Church of Cannabis praises marijuana without a religious text or scripture.

‘Elevating Yourself’: Colorado church houses unique group

Miles King, News Reporter
May 11, 2017

The International Church of Cannabis opened its doors on perhaps the most appropriate date of the year April 20, 2017 (also known as “4/20”). Located in Denver, Colorado, the church is home to a group...

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Florida representatives Matt Gaetz and Darren Soto are fighting to change the Drug Enforcement Agency’s weed policy.

Cannabis as a Schedule III drug

Miles King, News Reporter
May 4, 2017

Florida House of Representatives members, Matt Gaetz and Darren Soto, proposed a bill in mid-April to move marijuana from a Schedule I substance to a Schedule III substance. In 1970, President Richard...

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There has been conflict betweeen NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and the NFL Player’s Association about Marijuana use.

Pills versus Marijuana: NFL players consider alternative pain relief

Miles King, News Reporter
May 1, 2017

Current and former  NFL players have recently come out in support of marijuana use for pain relief. With pot becoming more socially accepted, in addition to becoming legalized in certain states, prescription...

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All of Ellensburg’s marijuana dispensaries will have deals on April 20 to celebrate 4/20, the greatest of all stoner holidays.

Happy 4/20 to all: Ellensburg events roundup

Miles King
April 20, 2017

April 20, 2017 will be just like any other Thursday this year for many people. For those who use marijuana, it has become a day of celebration and relaxation. Many myths about the true origin of 420 exist. “It...

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Oregon is the fourth state to enact a law to prevent weed dispensaries from storing the personal information of customers.

No trail to Oregon: Senate passes information bill

Miles King
April 12, 2017

Oregon Senate Bill 863, a bill concerning policies of identification record keeping in marijuana dispensaries, has reached the Oregon State House and has been passed. Oregon will follow Washington, Alaska...

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